The new year gives us an opportunity to see our living space in a brand new light.
Once the Christmas tree’s been dismantled and the cards have come down, it’s time to re-evaluate our immediate surroundings and give our habitat a satisfying detox. Apply a little mindfulness to your home this January and start as you mean to go on.
It’s an old tradition amongst superstitious folk that at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve, you should open back and front doors to blow out the year just gone and welcome in the new. While this may seem like crackpot behaviour just as you’re supping Champagne and tipsily mumbling the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, some age-old rituals still make sense in 2018, and giving our homes a blast of fresh air this new year – both literally and metaphorically – is something we can all get behind.
Declutter
Why not see in January with a thorough decluttering of the hallway and create a fresh, clean and calming space to come home to every day? Now’s the time to sort through the family’s rising collection of coats and boots and store away those lesser-used items. Treat yourself to some pretty trinket dishes to hold keys and Oyster cards, and find a permanent solution to that growing mountain of brown envelopes, such as the vintage brass letter holder you’ve had your eye on at the antiques market. Of course, clever storage is key so it’s wise to invest in a large, clean-lined console that will house any bits and bobs you need to grab in a hurry as you’re rushing out the door.
Small changes
In the living room, the quickest, most efficient, and most affordable way to refresh your interiors is to change up the soft furnishings. You can bring an aged leather sofa back to life instantly with a new set of colourful scatter cushions, while underfoot, a pristine new rug brings immediate satisfaction – not least from its inviting smell of newness. And while a fresh lick of paint is an obvious feel-good trick (new year, new hue?), you can also refresh your four walls by curating your art collection or family portraits and finally getting around to hanging your favourite pieces for maximum effect.
Kitchen rejuvenation
Splashing out on a whole new kitchen may not be on the cards right now but investing in a striking new feature splash-back can certainly rejuvenate a kitchen that’s overdue an update. Shop around for beautiful reclaimed tiles that will give the space an attractive new focal point, or choose the simpler but no less impactful option of specialist PVC kitchen wallpaper to brighten up the back wall. Think too about the accessories you chose to display on worktops and ensure it’s not just their functionality that awards them pride of place. If they don’t spark joy, store them away, and keep the space pleasingly clutter-free.
Bathroom boost
Give your bathroom an instant boost with a new set of fluffy towels and chic ceramic accessories, and while you’re at it, perform a brutal audit of your toiletries. If you’re guilty of keeping a surplus of near-empty shampoo bottles on the side of the bath, now’s a good time to sort out your bathroom storage and even make a feature of it. Display only your fanciest products to create your own at-home spa, boutique hotel style. It’s guaranteed to banish the January blues. And in the bedroom, there’s nothing quite like a crisp new set of bed linen to bring about a sense of restoration and general wellbeing at the beginning of the year. Make it a resolution to keep your sleeping space a proper sanctuary this year.